Breaker strip construction



July 7, 1953 J. J. voDA ETAL 2,644,606

BREAKER STRIP CONSTRUCTION FiledFeb. 28, 195o FIGI.

1l k52 FIGB. 36 56 42 I2 I3 P: [l

' ATT/Y a refrigeratorcabinet. f

Patented` July 7, 1.9-5.3

UNIT-eo sf'rAres l OFFICE i u l *BREAKER STRIP CONSTRUCTION Y I J h11 .L VodaA and Ralph EQWa-lilenbrock, vansyille, Ind., assignors to International Harvester `(f'mpany, a corporaton'bf `vNew erse'y 1 Application February 2s, 195'01,`s'eria1No. 146,65@

lThis invention relates `to fa refrigerator cabinet constructionandparticularly to a breaker strip construction -for bridging the space between the inner and-outer walls of such a cabinet construction. Y

The principal lobject Yof the present invention is to provide a novel breaker strip construction for a refrigerator cabinet which is of simplied design, may be easily and quickly applied, is strong, effective and; expeditesa'ssembly.

Another object is .to provide a breaker strip construction which will' effectively seal the space between the inner and outeriwallmembers of A further Objectis tcprovide-'a fbreaker'strip construction lin` l whichif'anA inner breaker-strip member will retain thein'ner and outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet in spaced ap'art'relationship and an Youter-breaker..strip' Will provide a finishing trimv between the edges.

A still further'object is Dtoxprovide a breaker 'strip construction which will actas a good heat break member between the :in'ner and `outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet'and will sacrifice only a small amount ofthe insulating space between said walls. f

yOther-objects and advantages of the invention Y will be 'apparentffr'om the following description taken in 'conjunction'with th'ef accompanying drawing, in which: f.'

Fig. v1 is a-top View of. atop opening type of refrigeration cabinet or chest having the fo'od `storage compartment dor'in open position.

Fig. 2 isfan enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustratesa modification of the-invention. i y

In the drawing, a refrigerator cabinet or chest I0 is provided with a door Il which is hingedly connected to the cabinet wall. The illustrated cabinet wall lcomprises a vertical outer wall I2,

ya vertical inner wall I3= spaced inwardly from said outer wall and an insulating material I4 disposedrtherebetween.

The outer wall' I2 is Abent downwardly and inwardlyat edge I5 to. form a U-shaped channel I5 having one leg I'I adjacent to the outer wall, a bottom portion I8 perpendicular vto the outer wall and a second leg I9 parallel to the outer wall. The top portion of leg I9 is bent inwardly to form a an'ge 20 which' is disposed in -approximately the same horizontal plane as edge I5. This flange is relativelyshort Yand terminates at a point-spaced inwardlyfrom edgey I5.

inner and outer wallv securely in place.

f9 claims. (creat-15)' `:a The inner wall I3 is bent downwardly and loutwardly atedge 2I-to form a 'U-shaped channel 22 having Aone leg 23 adjacent to the innerwall,

a "botton perpendicular to the inner wall andV The top portion of leg )25 is bent inwardly to form a a vsecond leg 25 parallel to the inner wall.

flange 26 which is disposed in approximately the same-horizontal -plane ,as edge 2I. `This Yflange is relatively short and terminates at a vpoint spaced inwardly from edge v2 I Y.

The channels I6 kand 22 extend completely around the "cabinet 'door opening and form upwardly opening groovesor pockets 2l and23. In the illustrated embodiment, the channels are shownas bent in portions of the inner and outer l walls, but if desired, theyV could be fabricated aS Aseparat'eparts and then vpositioned and secured to said walls. v

An inner breaker strip member 29 of rigid material having low heat conducting properties and high vmechanical streng-th, such as compressed 'fiber board, is positionedlbetween the walls and I planev extending down toward channel'bottoms vI8 and 24 but spaced from channel legs I9 and 25, andflat portions `3'3 and 34 which are Darallel to supporting portion 3U and proximate channel bottoms I8 and 24. Sheet metal screws 35 are used to secure the inner breaker strip 29 to the channels. The inner breaker strip serves to hold theA inner and outer walls in spaced apart relationship and to support an outer breaker strip-as hereinafter described.

An outer breaker strip 36 of a rubber-like material is positioned between the inner and outer walls, said breaker strip having lips 3i and Se extendingover edges I5 and `2I respectively and 'downwardly depending portions S9 and 4u. The portions 39 and 40 extendfi'nto channel grooves `2I-and 23 respectively and have recesses 4I and v12 alongone edge thereof into 'whichflanges 29 and y'26 it, therebywsecu'ring said breaker strip vThe under side 0`f said Outer breaker strip is proximate to the top surface of inner breaker strip 29 so that the'inne'r breaker striph will bracerthe outer breaker strip 'against any downwardly applied force.

-A bituminous-like sealing material 'Asis disposedin the'space betweenfthe channel'leg I9- and inclined portion 3I, in the space between leg :25 and inclined portion' 32, vand in the chan- `stalled in a cabinet structure. strip member 36 blends in smoothly with the lines nel grooves 21 and 28 of suicent quantity to seal around screws 35. This sealing material completely seals the space between the refrigerator cabinet walls and thus prevents entrance of any moisture or air.

In the modication of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the outer wall is bent downwardly and inwardly at edge I to form channel 44 having vertical leg 45 and horizontal leg 46. The inner wall is bent downwardly and outwardly at edge 2| to form channel 41 having vertical leg 48 and horizontal leg 49. The inner breaker strip 29 is positioned with iiat portions 33 and 34 on top of legs 46 and 49. An L-shaped supporting member 50 having legs 5l and 53 is positioned over fiat portion 33. Flange 52 is formed on the upper end of leg 53., A similar L-shaped supporting member 54 having legs 55 and 51 is positioned over nat portion 34. Flange 56 is formed on the upper end of leg 51. Supporting members 50 and 54 are provided with spa-ced apart holes 58 and 59 respectively. Sheet metal screws 35 secure the inner breaker strip 29 and the supporting members 50 and 54 to the channels 44 and 41 respectively. O-uter breaker strip 36 is positioned across edges l5 and 2l and flanges 52 and 56 fit into recesses 4l and 42, thereby securing the outer breaker strip in place. Sealing material 43 while heated to the liquid state is poured around screw heads 35 and flows through yholes 58 and 59 into engagement with the inner breaker strip. The sealing material solidies at normal room temperature and seals the space between walls l2 and I3.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this invention provides a novel breaker strip assembly which may be readily and quickly in- The outer breaker of the cabinet and can be easily removed. The breaker strip construction acts as a good heatbreak member between the inner and outer wall and positively seals the space between said walls by the use of only a Vsmall amount of sealing material.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet, the combination comprising a pair of spaced apart walls having marginal edges terminating substantially in a common plane; a pair of flanges carried by said walls, each of said flanges being associated with a respective wall and being spaced inwardly and disposed parallel thereto, said anges having edges terminating in substantially the same plane as the marginal edges of said walls and extending outwardly toward a respective wall; means extending transversely between and secured to said walls for maintaining said walls in spaced apart relationship, said means including a channel-shaped inner breaker strip having a pair of leg portions interconnected by a web portion,

A each of said leg portions secured to the lower portion of one of said flanges, said web portion being spaced between said walls and lying in substantially the same plane as the marginal edges of said walls; and an outer breaker strip having a central portion abutting said web portion and having its edges overlapping the wall edges, said outer breaker strip having ribs depending therefrom 'insertable respectively into the spaces be- 4 tween the walls and the flanges associated therewith.V

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said flanges associated with said walls and secured to the leg portions of said inner breaker strip denne pockets, and a sealing material contained in said pockets.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet, the 'combination comprising a pair of spaced apart walls having marginal edges terminating substantially in a common-plane; a pair of flanges carried by said walls, eachV of said flanges being associated with a respective wall and being spaced inwardly and disposed parallel thereto, said flanges having edges terminating in substantially the same plane as the marginal edges of said walls and extending outwardly toward a respective wall; means extending transversely between said walls for maintaining said wallsin spaced-apart relationship, said means including a channel-shaped inner breaker strip having a pair of leg portions interconnected by a vweb portion, the leg portions of said breaker strip each having a flange extending therefrom fastenedl to a respective wall, said web portion being spaced between said walls and lying in substantially lthe same plane as the marginal edges of said walls; and an outer breaker strip having a central portion abutting said web portion and having its edgesoverlap-ping the wall edges, said outer breaker strip having ribs depending therefrom insertable respectively into the spaces between the walls and the flanges associated therewith. Y

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, in which said flanges associated with `said walls and leg portions of said inner breaker strip denneY pockets; and a sealing material containedrin said pockets. V

5. In a refrigerator cabinet, the combination comprising, a pair of spaced walls having marginal edges terminating substantially in a common plane; a pair of channels integrally formed and associated with said walls respectively, each of said channels including an inwardly extend- Y ing portion and a flange spaced inwardly and disposed parallel to its respective wall, said flanges having edges terminating in substantially the same plane as the marginal edges of said walls and extending outwardly toward a respective wall; means extending transversely between said walls for maintaining said walls in spaced apart relationship, said means including a channel-V the wall and the flanges `associated therewith.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, in which said flanges associated with said walls and the leg portions of said inner breaker strip denne pockets; and a sealing material vcontained in said pockets.

'1. In a refrigerator cabinet, the combination comprising, a pair of spaced walls having marginal edges terminating substantially in a common plane; a pair of supporting flanges integrally formed and associated with said walls respectively, each of said flanges extending inwardly and being spaced from said common plane; an L-shaped bracket secured to each supporting flange having a section thereof spaced inwardly and disposed parallel to its respective wall, said sections having edges terminating in substantially the same plane as the marginal edges of walls; means extending transversely between said walls for maintaining said walls in spaced-apart relationship, said means including a channel-shaped inner breaker strip having a pair of leg portions interconnected by a web portion, the leg portionsrhaving flanges extending outwardly therefrom fastened to said supporting flanges, respectively, said web portion being spaced between said walls and lying in substantiallyfthe same plane as the marginal edges of said walls; and an outer breaker strip having a central portion abutting said web portion and having its edges overlapping the wall edges, said outer breaker strip having ribs depending therefrom nsertable respectively into the spaces between the Walls and the sections associated therewith.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, in which said sections and the leg portions of said inner breaker strip dene pockets; and a sealing material contained in said pockets.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8, in which said sections have openings therein to allow the passage of sealing material to the spaces between said Walls and said sections.

JOHN J. VODA. RALPH E. WALLENBROCK.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,176,717 King Oct. 17, 1939 2,201,596 Teeter May 21, 1940 2,296,024 Drake Sept. 15, 1942 2,464,526 Palmer Mar. 15, 1949 2,480,257 Palmer Aug. 30, 1949 

